How CUTE is that!? Adorable I think. :) I came across this little guy on pinterest, this morning and had to share! :D 17 outlets, and a built in circuit breaker make it just as functional as it is cute!! :)
Original Link source HERE
SO glad it is Friday, and a sunny beautiful Friday at that. Have any weekend plans?
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I listed a new print this afternoon. :) You might remember seeing the initial sketch I posted awhile back. I've been waiting to take pictures of Regal framed in our bedroom!
I am still loving the color lilac. :) I paired it with the Parachute Duvet cover in Feather Gray from West Elm... which I might add is the first big splurge I've made in our room in quite awhile! :)
The lilac sheets/pillow cases I picked up are from Wal Mart. They were really wide pillow cases, and I kind of prefer they were smaller. The Gray shams are actually Square Euro shams. They are pretty big, but you cant tell because the pillows in front are sooo long! :) Not happy with that set-up... I'm sure I'll eventually change it.
I found this vintage horse trophy on etsy, and spray painted it silver to make it feel a little more cohesive. :) I really love the little guy!
The curtains are from Target and I really love them! Did you notice the square pillow on the bed?
I used iron on printing fabric and transferred the design to the back of a linen tote bag, grabbed a pillow to stuff inside (it is TOO big) cut the straps, and tied the four straps and 2 sides together. It'll do for now. :)
I was SUPER excited to find this lilac covered flower pot on clearance at wal mart for $1.00. I picked up this succulent plant to go inside of it. It is hard to tell in the picture, but it actually has lilac undertones. :)
Love to have it updated some, and I've been wanting to de-clutter those shelves for MONTHS now, but kept putting it off. Feels great to finally have it done. :)
I still cant decide if I should list the other artwork I included on the shelves. The silhouette of the horses head, and the Always Kiss me Goodnight quote next to the horse art?
Would there be any interest in that? Not quite the normal style of my art, but it seemed to pull everything together, and really seemed to compliment each other.
Well, I have a few things I need to get done around the house today, and some orders to get out! :) The sale in the shop is going well. :) If you've been wanting to purchase a couple prints, now is definitely the time to do so! Buy 2 get 1 free.... I've added quite a bit of new artwork in the last couple of months. :) You can jump to the shop via this handy dandy link.
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This weekend was CRAZY busy. We had the windows put in on Friday. The window installers had taken down the mini blinds, and I told them not to worry about installing the brackets back because I was going to be buying something to replace the mini blinds. Well, that meant I needed SOMETHING up for privacy that evening... so I knew I had to get my rear in gear and start/finish painting the curtain panels I bought from Target a few weeks back.
This was one of those DIY projects that I started and ALMOST quit several times throughout the course of the project. It wasnt really that difficult to do, but it was time consuming and took patience, and Friday turned out to be super hectic. I started on the curtains probably around 4:00, I already had roast cooking in the crockpot (this YUMMY recipe) for dinner, so I thought I had the time to start and finish my little project in PLENTY of time before dinner. I had pushed the table to the side of the kitchen, and laid a new plastic shower curtain on the floor, it wasnt big enough so I had to add more plastic to the floor, so I could use my roller off the edges of the curtain without painting the floor. :) I pretty much followed this tutorial, except I added a little bit of textile medium to my paint, the curtains still dried stiff, but I think it helped some.
Taping off the stripes took much longer then I thought it would. I had 3 panels to do, and although I tried to keep them the same straight 6" apart as the tutorial, I ended up gettin lazy and my lines were definitely off a little. After taping all 3 curtains I started painting.
and realized I had painted two sections in a row! Ugh. I was so frustrated... I had two choices, either finish painting the entire curtain pretty much... or scrap it and use the extra panel I had, this meant I would have to tape off more stripes. I went ahead and just finished painting the curtain, it would look differently and take much longer then the others, but oh well. :) So long as the two hanging side by side matched I figured I was okay, but at this point I was seriously considering purchasing something different and scrapping the idea altogether. I was grumpy and totally not into the project at this point. I had thoughts of starting a blog where people could post they're failed diy attempts, and I could share my sob story with others who would really understand. Turns out (and I'm not surprised) that there is already a blog for that purpose...
But, I kept plugging along... during that time there was a knock at the door ( living in town means salespeople drop by on a regular basis ) and there was a man selling (somewhat of a promotional offer) home security systems. Because of the nature of my business/hobby I've been wanting to install a simple home security system, but the cost has always kept Jaydon and I from taking the leap and doing so. I did ask him to come back when Jaydon got off work, and I went back to my painting.
What felt like years later (that may be a slight exaggeration) I finished painting the panel, and impatiently waited for it to dry. Because it was in the middle of my kitchen floor I had to make sure the girls didnt accidentally walk on it. When it finally dried enough I started peeling the tape off... and I couldnt believe how much I loved it. Instantly I had the energy to do the other two.
But I had to figure out a way of getting the finished panel hung and off the floor so I could start on the other panel. So I ended up taking down some curtains in the house so the finished panel could hang in they're place and finish drying. I started on the second panel and things went quite a bit faster, I did two thick coats this time, and it was taking forever to dry! Jaydon got home at this time, and went outside to get some yard work done before dinner. I only had one curtain left to finish painting but it was taking FOREVER to dry! :) I finally decided to try and very carefully hang it so it could finish drying and I could get started on the last panel. Well the security guy came back when I was transporting the wet curtain. I had Trin answer the door and I am sure he thought I was nuts when I told him I had a wet painted curtain panel in my hands, but Jaydon was around back and he could go find him.
He said "No problem" and went out to find him. Well I was just getting ready to start on the last panel when Jaydon and the security guy came inside to talk details. I was surprised Jaydon was interested, and this meant I needed to stop so I could listen as well. If you know my husband you know he could probably carry on a coversation with a brick wall. I love him to pieces, but there is no such thing as a quick conversation with my husband... To make a really long story a little shorter, we ended up getting a security system installed, that night! It was super hectic, and Jaydon and I didnt eat the yummy roast until around 9:30 that night. I snuck into the kitchen to feed the girls around 6:30... they ate Cereal. Am I a bad mother for publicly recording that online? I was really in a time pinch, and since they beg for cereal at dinner time I didnt feel too terribly awful giving in this time.
What a crazy busy day... I finally started the last panel about 10:00. I was suuper tired, but really needed to get it finished, I'm glad I did... because the next day when Jaydon hung the curtains, it was compeltely worth all the stress and hectic-ness. :) If you are debating on painting your own curtains you should totally try it. Jaydon really was skeptical at how it was going to look, but really LOVED how they turned out. I just say plan to have more then enough time, and I would probably tape one day and paint the next if you are short on time! :)
I'll have to give you an update on the security system after we've used it for a bit. So far we are really liking it. The install guy had to come back a couple of times to finish the job, so it wasnt completely in when these pictures were taken. It is pretty neat though. We can arm and disarm the system with our cell phones, and there are some other really neat things I'm amazed about. :) I dont feel like we live in a bad neighborhood, but I am always worried about closing my shop down for vacations and it being so obvious that we are away. This system will help me feel better about leaving our house. The installer accidentally triggered the silent alarm while he was tweaking something... and we had 2 cop cars pull up at our house within minutes! It was somewhat reassuring. :) Best part, if we move... they will re-install at our new house for free! :) Cant beat that, because we've definitely been thinking about moving again. :) Do you have a security system installed? If so, do you like it?
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Even though you cant see it in this picture, we had new windows put in today! This was SO long overdue... the old windows were painted shut, and old and not very energy efficient! :) I am most excited about being able to open them now. :) Just in time for the cooler weather...
You also might notice that I've changed things up a bit in my room. I brought in some lilac color, (by way of some very wrinkly pillows) and made a temporary pillow covering with an old tote bag, my horse illustration (that I just might list in the shop) and some iron on fabric. :) I'll post more pictures when I finish things up in there, hopefully SOON. :)
I'm also working on Christmas card templates for the digital shop! I know most photographers have already started shopping for templates, so I'm really trying to get them finished up. I think you will love the fresh new approach. Or at least I hope it is still fresh, it is yet another one of those ideas that I've had stored in my brain for FAR too long. It feels nice to be putting it together... after all I'm running out of room in this little head of mine! lol
Anyhow, I really am trying to finish up the cards, so I'm going to get right back at it! :) Hope you guys have a great weekend!
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Wow, it was So neat to come across these pencil drawings I did back in my teenage years. This one I did when I was 15...
this next drawing Isnt dated, because I never really felt it was finished but I remember working on it. I think I may have been 17 at the time...
I drew LOTS of horses, saddles, and western "stuff". :) Finding these has inspired me to pick up my trusty pencil and start drawing more of these four legged beauties. The emerging equine trend makes it as good a time as ever to re-live an old passion of mine. I'm even planning to work in a few of these graceful creatures into our bedroom decor... more on that later!
Today while Journey napped Trin and I started drawing, I was working on a horse drawing:
and Trin took inspiration from my drawing:
I love how she is always inspired to re-create what I do. I encourage her to put her own spin/heart into her drawings, but I still think it is sweet how she likes to be just like mommy. :)
So many memories! I used to sign all my drawings with a gold marker!! So silly of me...
So, right this very minute I'm working on this drawing of the horse.
It is scanned into my computer and I am trying to see just which way to go with it... In keeping with the tradition I think I want to keep it in the pencil/sketched format. :) I'm also going to be doing a simple silhouette of a horse head for our bedroom. FUN FUN!!
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I'm sorry it has taken me forever and an eternity to post pictures! I was kind of holding out until I have the curtains finished and hung... but I havent even started them yet (I'm planning to paint a set!) so I thought I had better just post the room as is. :) We are also still planning to add white crown molding along the ceiling... and I think that will just really MAKE the room. But until then I am loving how clean and classic the gray looks. :)
We used Glidden's Granite Gray mixed in Behr's paint for the wall, and for the ceiling I believe we used pencil point also in Behr paint. It has really made the living room quite a bit darker, but I'm willing to deal with that, I love the colors too much. :)
Here is a before:
and the after:
I'm so glad Jaydon let me paint the fireplace FINALLY... :) We're planning to get rid of the papasan chair... it just really doesnt work with the space that well. Now that we have more furniture it just takes up way too much space. We still need additional seating of some sort over there... but that will have to wait. :)
I'm planning to paint white curtains with simple horizontal wide stripes. I was kind of undecided if I wanted gray or white stripes. I really wanted gray, just because I thought they looked the best, but really worried it may be too much gray. I'm still kinda concerned about that... But worse case scenario I'll be out 29.00 for the curtain panels. I already have the paint (same color as the walls) and the textile medium that I plan to add to the paint. This has been my inspiration picture:
Via reckless glamour
I think her curtains turned out beautifully, and I am kinda anxious to try myself. :)
I'm hoping to in the next couple of days... we went swimming at my aunt's yesterday:
...and I'm recovering from a painful sunburn today! ugh. :) I hope your weekend was a good one!
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Remember how I mentioned being interested in paper sculpture? Well a google search turned up the work of Anna Wili Highfield, and I am SOO impressed. The detail and likeness of her creatures is nothing short of amazing!
Paper? Paper never looked so good! :) I think the birds she does are probably my favorite, but I definitely have a soft spot for the horse heads too. :)
I am just so entranced with her work.... not to mention that gorgeous fireplace! :)
Lovely. I'm just speechless. What do you think?
Photos are the property of Anna-Wili Highfield :)
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I've been spotting equestrian horse art in quite a few of the home design blogs I read... so maybe it is a new trend?
The above photograph (as well as the one below) were found on Mari Burgos' blog, and they definitely took me on a trip down memory lane. I have always LOVED horses as a kid. I was seriously a horse fanatic. When I was in grade school, my best friend collected Breyer Horses, she had 123 of them all lined up along a wide bookcase that ran the entire width of her bedroom. We would play (very gently) with those horses for hours and hours. I lived, ate, and drank the four legged creatures... I didnt get my first one until I turned 13. And by the time I turned 16, I had owned 3 different horses, a quarter horse mix, an arabian mare, and my last one was a paint. I sold him when I turned 16, and put the money to my car, which happened to be an 88 Ford Mustang Convertible. :)
I did miss my horse, but the arabian mare kind of changed my trustworthiness towards horses. Arabians are known for being a little more hotblooded then say a quarter horse, but she was a mare (female) too... and well... mares are moody. :) Not exactly a good combination for a beginning rider. 9 times out of 10, I would go to put on her bridle, and she would swing her head and stand up with her front legs in the air... definitely not something I was comfortable with. I think horses sense when you are nervous, and every time I went to put her bridle on, I would immediately start to get nervous... which definitely didnt help! :) We ended up selling her to a super nice old man that rode her in the parades as part of the vfw I think... They were a match made in heaven. :)
I will have to see if I can dig up some old photos of me and my horses, I'm sure you would all LOVE to see them? ;) When I got my first horse, my parents kind of got bit my the bug too... my dad ended up buying a really awesome horse called a bashkir curly. His hair would get long and curly in the winter, although we never did, people actually shear them like you would a sheep... his name was Syntar, and boy was HE hotheaded! :) I found some pictures online... he was this color:
Dont you just LOVE the curly hair? Here is another picture of that same foal after he lost his winter coat, and grew a little....
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Syntar had the curliest eye lashes... :) While it isnt the greatest picture, here is another Bashkir Curly I found online that shows just how different they can look with they're winter coat.
I think I need to feature some photos from one of my favorite horse photographers. :) His work would look gorgeous on anyone's wall. So, what do you think? Should horses make a comeback in the design world? :) I personally love the idea. Because our house was decorated around a western theme for my later teenage years, I'm really burnt out on all things western... but I am really liking the thought of mixing horses with a modern style. :)
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I just might need to bring out some of my earlier pencil artwork. Horses is ALL I ever drew in my teenage years. :) Or better yet... maybe I need to recreate something new! I'm definitely feeling inspired...
p.s. The sale has been a HUGE success! I'm working suuuper hard to try and keep my 3 day shipping schedule. I am running a bit behind on answering e-mails though... so please bear with me over the next couple of days. :)
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Well it isnt "techinically" a dandelion but it really reminds me of one! :) Jaydon and I seen this light in the Portland Ikea the last time we went, and although I wasnt surprised that I fell in love... I was a little shocked to hear that he actually liked it as well. :)
The fact that they grouped several of them together in the above photo is gorgeous... it has kind of a surreal look to it.
So today I popped on over to take a peek at decor8, and seen this picture of the light above a dining room table, which is exactly where we want to put it! :) It looks suuper big in the picture, and it really is in person too!
The flowers are actually paper, which is somewhat of a turn off, I can only imagine how dusty it will look over time.... I guess it is a good thing we have 11 foot tall ceilings? ;) I think the fact that the flowers ARE paper makes the light super affordable. My ikea has it for sale for just 89.99. Love the price. :)
Anyhow, I just had to share that... the next time we make a trip to ikea I really want to go ahead and pick this baby up!!
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I seriously cannot seem to get enough of the color yellow! :) I've been slowly changing my living room, and adding in yellow and gray here and there... it is coming along really good. Maybe I'll be able to post pictures sometime soon...I'm kind of worried that with the change in seasons yellow might go out to make room for Fall colors?
One thing I have wanted to do in my living room, is recover my throw pillows to add in some extra pops of color. I really think that adding color to your room via throw pillows makes a huge statement. :) Awhile back I bought some really great iron on transfer paper from a company online, and I thought it would be SUPER fun to design my own throw pillows using the transfer paper! I bought some pillow cases and planned to use the fabric on my pillows, the only catch- I do NOT know how to sew... and that really puts a damper on my over-all plans. Boo Hoo...
Do you have a favorite color combo that is inspiring you to do a little re-decorating?
p.s. I cant seem to locate a source for the above photo, if you know the original source please let me know and I'll give proper credit. :)
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